Japan Foundation for UNU (JFUNU) Scholarship

The Japan Foundation for UNU (JFUNU) Scholarship is available for outstanding applicants from developing countries* who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance, and they will be considered as candidates for the award of the scholarship.

*The developing countries listed in the latest OECD DAC list.

The scholarship provides a monthly allowance of 150,000 JPY* for living expenses for a maximum of 36 months. Travel costs to and from Japan, visa handling fees, and health/accident insurance costs must be covered by the student. The tuition fees are fully waived for the scholarship recipients.

*150,000 JPY is the average monthly living cost for an international student without dependents in Tokyo, although this amount may vary depending on the lifestyle of the student.

STARTING DATE:

2016•09•01

APPLICATIONS DUE:

2016•04•28

The PhD programme in Sustainability Science aims to produce scholars who will become key researchers in the field of sustainability science. The programme takes an innovative approach to sustainability, seeking to promote a better understanding of the issues by incorporating global change perspectives, specifically those related to climate change and biodiversity.

The programme will equip graduates with comprehensive, multidisciplinary knowledge of sustainability problems, and deepen their understanding of the role of environmental sustainability in addressing current issues related to global change. Students undertake problem-oriented research, acquiring the quantitative and qualitative analytical research skills necessary to understand the underlying principles of various systems involved in sustainability issues and debates. Through coursework and research, PhD students gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as the technical literacy required to address sustainability problems.

The PhD in Sustainability Science programme duration is three years; the programme starts in September. Students are required to obtain 14 credits and are expected to complete all degree requirements by July of their third year. Students must complete a PhD dissertation in one of several UNU-IAS research themes, focusing on global change and sustainability. Students are also encouraged to take a joint PhD diploma offered by the UNU-IAS and The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (UT-GSFS) on Sustainability. For the joint diploma programme, students are required to take 18 credits, four of which should be from the courses offered by UT-GSFS.

Application deadline: 28 April 2016

Course Information

For information on the specific courses offered as part of this degree programme, please visit the the curriculum information page on the UNU-IAS online learning website.

Faculty

The programme is taught by an expert teaching faculty comprising both UNU-IAS academic staff and invited distinguished scholars and practitioners.

Learning Environment and Facilities

Sharing a building with many UN agencies, UNU-IAS offers a unique learning environment for its diverse international student body.

The UNU Library offers access to a range of academic books, over 20,000 electronic journals, official UN documents issued since 1946, and publications in the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development e-libraries. All students are provided with a comprehensive library orientation session at the beginning of the course. Students also have access to the libraries of International Christian University, Ochanomizu University, Sophia University, Temple University Japan, and The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.

A dedicated computer lab is provided for students, with software to cater to the needs of each course, including GIS, environmental modelling applications, and statistical analysis tools. In addition, students have access to a number of international conferences, workshops, and symposiums at the university.

Student Support

UNU-IAS assists students from the time of their registration to graduation, acknowledging that students may experience difficulties adjusting to a new country and culture.

An induction programme is conducted at the beginning of the academic session, introducing students to the staff responsible for specific student services, and familiarizing students with the campus through a tour of the facilities.

Housing

Students are provided with a handbook about living in Tokyo prior to their arrival, including information on how to find and secure accommodation.

Academic Calendar

The Academic Calendar shows important dates and university holidays for the academic year.

• Admission Requirements

  Applicants for the PhD in Sustainability Science are required to have met ALL of the following requirements by the application deadline in order to be considered:

  1. Strong interest in sustainability studies;

  2. Demonstrated commitment to study and understand global issues;

  3. A completed Master’s degree in disciplines related to sustainability studies and a minimum of 2 years of practical field experience related to UNU-IAS research themes

  OR

  Two completed Master’s degrees, at least one of which must be in disciplines related to sustainability studies;

  *Those who expect to receive a second Master’s degree before the entrance period – September 2016 – may also apply.

  4. A GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale on at least one of the Master’s degrees earned; and

  5. English language proficiency

  The minimum score requirements for English language qualifications required by UNU-IAS are:

  • 600 in TOEFL – Paper-Based Testing (PBT)
  • 100 in TOEFL – Internet-Based Testing (IBT)
  • 7.0 in IELTS – Academic format

  Applicants, except for the cases below, must submit original TOEFL or IELTS score reports (from a test taken within the last two years) to the Admissions Office at the time of application:

  1. Applicants whose first language is English.
  2. Applicants who graduated from a university or a postgraduate school located in an English speaking country.
  3. Applicants who completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme where the language of instruction and examination was English. In this case, an official statement from the academic institution will be required, confirming the use of English as the language of instruction and examination.

  UNU-IAS requires original TOEFL/IELTS score reports (no photocopies accepted).

  • TOEFL: Please order an official score report using an institution code 6991.For more information on TOEFL, please visit http://www.ets.org/toefl/
  • IELTS: Please request that an official report be sent directly to UNU-IAS.For more information on IELTS, please visit http://www.ielts.org/

   Fees

  • Application Processing Fee: None
  • Tuition Fee: 10,000 USD per year

  Estimated total expenses for the PhD degree programme for 3 years including tuition are approximately 83,500 USD. Applicants must show financial resources adequate to meet the full costs of educational and living expenses.

   

 

This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

http://ias.unu.edu/en/admissions/degrees/phd-in-sustainability-science-2016.html#overview